No reverse gear

[Papa k]

Hi all papa Kev here across the pond in the uk
With all your vast knowledge and myself a newbie to this wonderful 4x4 thing called the jeep tj I was wondering if any of you can help me
My gearbox won’t go into reverse at all and there is a constant noise from one of the shafts even when’s out of gear my question is what do any of you think it could be and could you please recommend someone to contact who maybe able to help/supply the parts needed
It seems near to impossible to find the parts here and I miss driving the old girl(1997 Jeep Wrangler Sahara 4lt manual transmission)
Thank you all in anticipation
Kev

 

[macleanflood]

Do you have a body lift or skid plate spacer? Anything like that might make the gear level hit the tub and not engage reverse.

Rebuilding an AX-15 is not difficult. Assuming you have one...might be an AX-5.

-Mac

 

[basedbb69]

I've had both the nv3550, and the ax15 in my 2004 jeep. Both transmissions have made rattling noises while the engine is on. So that's not necessarily out of the ordinary. Is there a grinding noise when you try and put it in reverse? Or it just fails to do anything?

My nv3550 was blown from the previous owner putting gear lube in there. It would pop out of first gear a lot and grind in reverse. However, I had figured out a technique that would allow me to get into reverse most of the time and I drove it for 3 years like that. Press the clutch, wait 3 whole seconds, then try reverse. If it didn't work, release the clutch, push it in again and repeat. This was due to something in the transmission because I replaced the clutch assembly, throwout bearing, input shaft bearing and bushing, and master and slave cylinder and the issue persisted. That's why I swapped an ax-15 in.

 

[ColoJeep]

Hi all papa Kev here across the pond in the uk
With all your vast knowledge and myself a newbie to this wonderful 4x4 thing called the jeep tj I was wondering if any of you can help me
My gearbox won’t go into reverse at all and there is a constant noise from one of the shafts even when’s out of gear my question is what do any of you think it could be and could you please recommend someone to contact who maybe able to help/supply the parts needed
It seems near to impossible to find the parts here and I miss driving the old girl(1997 Jeep Wrangler Sahara 4lt manual transmission)
Thank you all in anticipation
Kev

Shut off the engine , mover the gear shifter into the reverse position , put clutch pedal down , restart engine. Does reverse work now?
If so look at your clutch system.

 

[Papa k]

I've had both the nv3550, and the ax15 in my 2004 jeep. Both transmissions have made rattling noises while the engine is on. So that's not necessarily out of the ordinary. Is there a grinding noise when you try and put it in reverse? Or it just fails to do anything?

My nv3550 was blown from the previous owner putting gear lube in there. It would pop out of first gear a lot and grind in reverse. However, I had figured out a technique that would allow me to get into reverse most of the time and I drove it for 3 years like that. Press the clutch, wait 3 whole seconds, then try reverse. If it didn't work, release the clutch, push it in again and repeat. This was due to something in the transmission because I replaced the clutch assembly, throwout bearing, input shaft bearing and bushing, and master and slave cylinder and the issue persisted. That's why I swapped an ax-15 in.

Thank you for your reply I’ll try that technique you spoke of hopefully it will get me out of some embarrassing situations rather than pushing the jeep back by hand

 

[Papa k]

Shut off the engine , mover the gear shifter into the reverse position , put clutch pedal down , restart engine. Does reverse work now?
If so look at your clutch system.

I’ll give that a try and see how it works it may be the clutch thanks

 

[Papa k]

Do you have a body lift or skid plate spacer? Anything like that might make the gear level hit the tub and not engage reverse.

Rebuilding an AX-15 is not difficult. Assuming you have one...might be an AX-5.

-Mac

I believe it’s a ax15 but I’ll check it out and make sure what type it is the jeep doesn’t have a lift or spacers any idea where I could possibly buy a rebuild kit for the transmission and thank you for your help
Kev

 

[lBasket]

The ax5 was 2.5L only and the Sahara was 4.0 only right? So it should be an ax15

 

[macleanflood]

@hear any recommendations for an AX-15 rebuild kit?

-Mac

 

[hear]

@hear any recommendations for an AX-15 rebuild kit?

-Mac

Never touched a manual, but I'm low key anxious to learn.

 

[macleanflood]

Never touched a manual, but I'm low key anxious to learn.

Figured one of your automatic sources of parts might have a kit.

-Mac

 

[JMT]

Figured one of your automatic sources of parts might have a kit.

-Mac

Advanced Adapters

https://www.novak-adapt.com/catalog/transmission/transmission-parts/ax15-parts.html

 

[hear]

Figured one of your automatic sources of parts might have a kit.

-Mac

Cobra does, but I can't speak to anything about it. Oregon Performance Transmission doesn't seem to carry it. Lately I've been using ebay for rebuild kits & parts.

Having said that, I just found an NV3550 for $50 on marketplace in need of a rebuild. Cobra has that rebuild kit for about $220, so I may try my hand. If form holds, the NV3550 in my 02 will probably go out the minute I take ownership of the trashed unit.

 

[Sensei]

Are you able to shift into the other gears besides reverse when the engine is running?